Spice up Feeling the dinner cold? P12 P16 Manukau Courier Tuesday, May 3, 2016 YOUR PLACE, YOUR PAPER Father funding cancer fight Melanoma will claim young dad within a year without the drug Keytruda CHRIS HARROWELL Time is of the essence for cancer sufferer Michael Williams. The 31-year-old from Manu- rewa has been diagnosed with inoperable stage-4 melanoma. His only hope is the contro- versial melanoma drug Pembro- lizumab, known as Keytruda. The drug is not funded or subsidised A cartoonist’s comment on the by the Government and will cost drug appeared in Wellington’s Williams ‘‘hundreds of thousands Dominion Post earlier this year. of dollars’’. His family has created an online Givealittle fundraising Keytruda page to help raise the money. ‘‘My prognosis is a life expect- ancy of six to 12 months if I can’t seen as get Keytruda,’’ Williams says. He was admitted to Auckland low priority City Hospital toward the end of last year after he started having unexplained fevers. The New Zealand Cancer Society ‘‘I had a full-body CT scan and describes Keytruda as a they found a tumour the size of an ‘‘breakthrough melanoma drug’’. avocado. It says the Pharmaceutical ‘‘I saw the oncologist and Management Agency – Pharmac underwent surgery. – has given the medicine a ‘‘low ‘‘They found the tumour was priority’’ which means it will not attached not to my bowel but to be publicly funded here. the main artery of my small intes- Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug ‘‘designed ‘‘It’s been so tough to interfere with a protein found on the surface of some cancer since the doctor cells’’, the society says. said the word The drug can help shrink tumours in some patients, with ‘cancer’.’’ fewer side effects than existing Mele Siniva Williams treatments. It’s funded in the United tine, which made it inoperable.’’ Cancer patient Michael Williams, pictured with his wife Mele Siniva Williams and their 7-month-old son James Williams, States, UK and Australia. Williams has had medical needs help to fund vital treatment with the melanoma drug Keytruda. PHOTO: CHRIS HARROWELL problems most of his life. He was born without a spleen, had a years had it been government- estimates it will cost hundreds of ‘‘That’s why I’m trying my best "I want to see my son grow up stroke at age 2 and has a heart funded. Chemotherapy has a 10-20 thousands of dollars for him to be to get the message out there and and I want to support my wife. I condition. per cent chance of success treated for two years. find money anywhere we can.’’ fight for my family and friends, He’s now undergoing chemo- whereas Keytruda has a 50 per His wife Mele Siniva Williams Williams says he’s staying for the woman I love and for my therapy to fight the cancer. cent chance, he says. says the high cost is what inspired strong for his wife and 7-month- child." Doctors told him they would A 50 milligram vial of the drug the family to try online fund- old son James and he appreciates ❚ Go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/ have put him on Keytruda for two costs more than $2000. Williams raising. the support of his parents. keytruda4michael to contribute. 2 MANUKAU COURIER, MAY 3, 2016 stuff.co.nz YOUR PAPER, YOUR PLACE did you know... 106,386 1. MUM’S THE WORD FROM the number of tickets Motat goes back to the rockin’ 1950s issued by speed cameras THE for Mother’s Day on May 8, 10am- in Counties Manukau in EDITOR 4pm. Performances, fashion shows 2015 and vintage car displays. t was heart-warming to see the 2. VOTE BATT CONTENTS I number of diehard fans who Comedian Tim Batt’s new show runs News ................................................................. 3-17 turned up at Mt Smart until May 14 at Montecristo. Tickets Backyard Banter ............................................ 4 Stadium to watch the Warriors 1 from $15 at eventfinda.co.nz. Conversations ..................................................6 take on the Dragons. Good Bloke Award .......................................8 The club must have been 3. COASTGUARD Out & About ......................................................9 expecting people to stay away in Auckland Coastguard holds a free Nadia Lim ...........................................................12 droves after the Warriors’ week community open day at Mechanics What’s On ....................................................14-15 from hell – the flogging by the Bay on May 14, 10am-3pm. Go to Dr Libby .............................................................. 16 Melbourne Storm and the auckland-coastguard.org.nz. Puzzles ................................................................ 16 disciplining of six players for Sport ...............................................................18-23 flouting club rules. 4. EVITA But almost 13,000 fans turned to do list Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim This newspaper is up on Sunday and that was 2 3 Rice’s musical hits the Bruce Mason subject to NZ Press probably due to the feeling that Centre from May 28-June 18. Tickets Council procedures. they must support the club in the from $55 at ticketmaster.co.nz. A complaint must first bad times as well as the good. be directed in writing, 5. CONCERT BAND within one month of Where I was sitting, the feeling publication, to the editor’s email address. was one of trepidation that we Manukau Concert Band presents If not satisfied with the response, the were going to get another hiding – Hooked on Classics at Ormiston complaint may be referred to the and then delight that the team Senior College, May 7, 7.30pm. A Press Council. PO Box 10-879, pulled off a very creditable win. range of pieces by Mozart and his The Terrace, Wellington 6143. At the end of the game people Or use the online complaint form at mates. Entry and supper for a www.presscouncil.org.nz Please all around us rose to give the 4 5 donation. include copies of the article and all players a standing ovation for correspondence with the publication. their gutsy effort. That was great to see. But the players should take Contact us OFFICE: 272 7017. ADDRESS: 33 Birmingham Rd, East Tamaki. PO Box 76-400, Manukau. EDITOR: Judith Tucker 272 5863 or [email protected]. SALES note – that sort of support is MANAGER: Kevin Breen 272 5889 or [email protected]. ADVERTISING SALES INQUIRIES: 272 7017. CLASSIFIEDS: 525 2100 or precious and has to be earned. [email protected]. DELIVERIES: 525 2022, [email protected] or www.snadelivery.co.nz 73,901 Audited Circulation (ABC for 12mths to 31 Dec 15). – Judith Delivered each Tuesday & Thursday to: Clendon, Clover Park, Favona, Flat Bush, Goodwood Heights, Hill Park, Homai, Mahia Park, Mangere Bridge, Mangere Central, Mangere East, Manukau Central, Manukau Heights, Manurewa, Manurewa East, Middlemore, Otahuhu, Otara, Papatoetoe, Peninsula Park, Puhinui, Randwick Park, The Gardens, Totara Heights, Wattle Downs, Weymouth, Wiri. + 6KM BC5393 South Auckland A&E Dental fun Associated with White Cross walk Open Brought to you by the Manurewa Local Board and the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board 7 Days PUHINUI STREAM • Free initial consult except for Orthodontics* • Open Early- Closes Late* • Extractions, wisdom teeth surgery CHALLENGE • Q & Farmers Cards also accepted • FREE social welfare quotes • White fillings, Root Canal Treatment • Free Emergency Treatments for children under 13 years • Partial & complete dentures • FREE General Dental Treatment for 13 years old to 1 day • Gum treatment, crowns, bridges SATURDAY 7 MAY before they turn 18 • Orthodontic treatment • ACC, emergency dental treatment *except on Weekends & Public Holidays • Super Gold Card holders 10% discount from May 2015* *conditions apply Hayman Park (Manukau) to Totara Park (Manurewa) SUBSCRIBE 15-23 Station Rd, Otahuhu, Ph 270 0200 6652861AZ www.aucklanddental.co.nz AND SAVE UP TO Phone:0800 OPTICS (678427) Fax (09) 489 3375 Email: [email protected] Post: P.O. Box 31306 Milford 34% ATTENTION: Auckland’s 1,200 prosthetic eye wearers. To celebrate its recent changes and achievements, the New Zealand Artificial Eye Service would like to offer you a free consultation and professional polish of your prosthetic eye. Registration & warm up activities from 9:30am at Hayman Park, • New name: now the New Zealand for a 10:30am start. A scavenger hunt along the way, Prosthetic Eye Service and inale entertainment at Totara Park. • New website: www.prosthetic-eyes.co.nz. Register online at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/events • New research: 8 scientific and secure your free shuttle seat! For more information phone 09 301 0101 papers – lead author: or email [email protected] Dr Keith Pine. • New book: ‘Clinical Ocular Join 'Puhinui Stream Challenge' on Facebook for updates Prosthetics’ – lead author: Dr Keith Pine. www.mags4gifts.co.nz Dr Keith Pine BSc (Psych), MBA, PhD (Optom), MIMPT Director & Ocular prosthetist stuff.co.nz MAY 3, 2016, MANUKAU COURIER 3 Parking charges on some Auckland streets will go up from $16 to as much as $63 a day. Car park charges will triple in June MARIA SLADE Commuters parking on Auckland CBD fringe streets are set to pay Tipu Montessori in Otahuhu was targeted by a scammer asking for almost $600. Photo: Samantha Smith almost three times as much under new charges proposed by Auck- land Transport. It plans to raise the cost of parking on streets from Wynyard Sick children at centre of scam Quarter through to Grafton Gully from $2 or $3 an hour to a stan- dard $3 per hour for the first two SAMANTHA SMITH ‘‘I just find it appalling, that hours then $6 an hour thereafter. Concern over magazine noted at MoH people are trying to use sick and That means parking for an Sick children are at the heart of a vulnerable children, even chil- eight-hour day will go up from $16 scam focused on Middlemore A Ministry of Health spokesperson $6 billion worth of annual funding dren in general, to scam for their in some places around the fringe Hospital.